Welcome to our favourite reads for May. Each month some of ARRA’s members will tell you a little bit about one of the books they’ve recently read and loved.
These are not full reviews of the books, just honest opinions on why they enjoyed the book so much. Hopefully one of these will strike a chord with you.
So, we asked our members to tell us about some of their favourite reads for May …
Among the Grey Gums by Paula J Beavan (historical romance)
I love a good Australian historical and Paula J Beavan has not disappointed. This is her second book and it is absolutely brilliant, I loved the characters and the setting; the author has taken me back to this time in history with a true telling of how it was. This one has mystery, a fabulous romance and danger. The heroine, Lucy, and hero, Sam, make a fabulous team, with witty banter and love growing through danger. I highly recommend this one. [Helen, NSW]
Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch (mm fantasy romance)
The cover drew me to this book, and the 5-star reviews. I loved it. Full of strange happenings and wonderful characters, including a worple horse that was just magical. Fenn Todd is homeless when he is given a horse made of sacking. It leads him to the castle of Morgrim the Sorcerer, who has a terrifying reputation. The interactions between grumpy Morgrim and plain-speaking Todd are funny and sweet, as they begin to learn to trust each other. Lee Welch is a New Zealand writer. Now I need to read her other books! [Sara, Vic]
Frost by CN Crawford (Frost and Nectar #1) (fae romance)
I read this in one sitting/night. Finished it at 6.15am. Somewhere around the middle I skipped to the end because I couldn’t bear not knowing any longer. That didn’t detract from the reading experience. This enemies-to-lovers story has romance, spice/steam, dragons, fae, adventure, a tortured MMC, some dark themes, and life-or-death moments. It was my first experience of this author, but she’s now on my favourite authors list. Warning: You will want to have Ambrosia on hand before you start Frost. [Sophia, ACT]
Still Waters Run Deep by Louisa Valentine (contemporary romance)
This is a fascinating romance because both the protagonists are married to other people when they fall in love. It’s an experienced author who can pull this off and not have the reader hating the hero and the heroine. Louisa Valentine does this well. Sarah doesn’t want to fall in love with her married boss, Jack, but they are very well-suited. The tension in the book is created by the will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic. The setting is Papua New Guinea, which makes it fascinating as I remember the politics of the time. Can’t recommend this enough. [Cathleen, NSW]
Meant For Her by Natasha Madison (Meant For #2) (contemporary romance)
Christopher & Dakota. Dakota’s husband Benji is Christopher’s best friend. I am so glad the author terminated Benji in the first chapter, I lost count how many times I wanted to jump into the fictional book realm and kill him myself, ugh! Back to Christopher and Koda and her two girls, and his family, and his extended family, lol! This story, although emotional (have tissues handy), is also uplifting, funny, and so very heart warming. The little girls are so precious. I loved every bit of this story! I read it in one sitting and then listened to it on Audible. [Linda, WA]
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen (romantic suspense)
Sarina Bowen is an auto-buy author for me. Her latest book is romantic suspense rather than romantic comedy or straight romance, but I enjoyed it very much. It starts when the heroine, Ariel, gets a text from Drew, the father of her young son—but Drew died five years ago. The story moves back and forth between the ‘now’ of the story and five years earlier, leading up to when the love of the heroine’s life disappeared and later died. An engrossing, page-turning story that ends well. [Anne, Vic]
An Unsuitable Bride by Cathleen Ross (historical romance)
I’ve often stood at the Hydro Majestic Hotel lookout, wondering how people got into the Megalong Valley below, other than by walking. Now I know, thanks to this absorbing story. Set in the Blue Mountains in 1918, it has it all: a great take on our attitudes to Germans here in WWI; war veterans; class structures; close-knit rural relationships; landscape; wildlife; food culture; car crank handles; pandemics; anxious pregnant, unmarried women; sleazebags and gentlemen. I devoured it in one sneaky-read sitting. [Louisa, Vic]
Rescue by Rachel Schurig (Ransom #5) (rockstar romance)
I had the hardest time picking a favourite this month, because I read the last four stories in this series and they were all terrific. I went with this one because Lennon has had such a difficult time with his mental health throughout this series and he doesn’t know why. He finds out in this book and it is heartbreaking and blows up the whole family dynamic. His love interest, Haylee, is also a singer and also has her problems. But love will conquer all. I thoroughly recommend this book and the whole series, but be sure to read them in order. [Debbie, ACT]
Open Season by Linda Howard (romantic suspense)
I read this book when it first came out and really enjoyed it, so thought I’d see if a reread would stand the test of time. It did, although some parts are a bit inappropriate now. You’ll know the parts I mean when you read it. But the discussion about the colour ‘puce’ was very funny. This is a romantic suspense, fabulously well done. I’d forgotten the suspense part involved trafficking girls for the sex trade; so abhorrent. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that justice was done here. The best part of the book was the snappy dialogue between the hero and heroine—super entertaining. [Malvina, NSW]
The Perfectly Simple Complicated Life of Maggie Halloran by Trish Morey (women’s fiction)
This is a totally amazing read. Set in a picturesque beachside town in Cornwall, Maggie’s perfect, quiet, stress-free life of retirement with relaxing days of play Sudoku in her small cottage, has a hiccup (her pregnant daughter) or two (her mother) or three (her ex-husband). It grabbed me from the first paragraph and it held me enthralled all the way through. A book of the simply complicated organism that is family with all the dramas, misunderstandings, and love you would expect. Well-written story and characters that make you laugh and groan. I relished reading this book with its wit, humour, family relationships and romantic antics. [Eleni, SA]
Once in a Blue Moon by Sharon Sala (Blessings, Georgia #10) (small-town romance)
This is not my first re-read of a Sharon Sala book. The ultimate romance writer, she always delivers in a modern, practical, small-town way whether it’s set in Blessings, Georgia or anywhere else. If you can get a copy of Once in a Blue Moon , enjoy the reality of romance and all it entails. If you like this one, there’s a whole series to enjoy. [Vonnie, Qld]
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